Chapter 3
Though it was a rather rocky start, as time passed, Legolas and Joey became good friends. Today, a week since she had appeared in Middle-Earth, they were taking a stroll into the lesser-known parts of Mirkwood. Their voice could be heard as they walked, a light, friendly banter taking place between them. Though it was not serious, their banters always seemed to be at least partially true and though they did not get angry, fire could still sometimes be seen in both their eyes as they retorted to the other's comment. Finally, the pair stopped and sat on the rocks by a small waterfall. Neither spoke for some time, for they were content with listening to the nature around them.
"Legolas, I wish to see more of Middle-Earth," Joey said finally, speaking what was on her mind. She had been looking straight at the waterfall, though not actually noticing it, but now she turned to look at Legolas sitting on her left. "I want to see all of the other places to Middle- Earth that I have always wanted to see." "Joey" Legolas started, in a tone that sounded like he meant to talk her out of it. "Nay, mellon nin," Joey said, cutting his sentence short. "I never thought this could be possible. Now that it is, I want to see all that I can see. My intent was for you to come with me, but if you do not, then I journey on my own." Legolas opened his mouth, but no words came out, so he shut it again. After a long moment, he sighed and said, "I will not let you travel in Middle-Earth by yourself. It is true that the One Ring has now been destroyed, but there is much that is still dark and evil in these lands. Nay, milady, you will not be going alone. I will come with you." "Thank you, my friend," Joey said, smiling and giving Legolas a small hug. "You will not regret this." Legolas smiled, but inwardly he hoped that he had made the right choice.
~*~
A few days later, Legolas and Joey bid Thranduil and the elves of Mirkwood goodbye and were off on their journey. The first place Joey wanted to see was Lothlorien. Joey knew that if she did not go soon, she might miss the chance of seeing Galadriel, the Lady of Light, before she left for the Grey Havens. Joey was happy to be travelling and Legolas, though he would never admit it, was happy as well. He had missed Mirkwood while on his journey to destroy the ring, but had been missing the wild forests now that he was home. They were about another day's journey away from Lothlorien, but night was starting to fall and they had to top and make camp. The fire was small, but gave out a sufficient amount of heat and light. "That was a delicious meal," Joey stated. They had had nothing but lembas and fruits for the past week now. The elf looked over at her and they started to laugh, filling the forest with beautiful sounds. Suddenly, Legolas stopped laughing and his whole body tensed. Noticing the defensive manoeuvre, Joey stopped and listened carefully, but couldn't hear anything out of the ordinary. "What is it?" Joey asked in a low whisper. "Something is coming," Legolas replied, his voice so low that Joey almost didn't hear him. Legolas put out the fire and took their bags and leapt into a tree. A moment later, Legolas was back on the ground, the bags stored in the tree, to help Joey get up into the tree as well. She was tall, light, and quite agile since she was an athlete and needed little assistance. Together, they leapt to a tree a little distance away form where they had camped just moments ago. Legolas leapt without any noise, but Joey leapt through the trees with slightly less grace, causing a quiet stir of the leaves. "This is harder than Legolas makes it look," Joey thought as she watched the elf in front of her. They stopped and waited to see what was coming. As the group of footsteps got closer, they realized that the noise was coming form a band of hideous orcs. Legolas looked over at Joey and silently pulled out his white-handled elven daggers and handed them to her. He then grabbed his bow for himself, fitting it with an arrow as his elven sword hung at his side in its scabbard. Joey looked down again and let out a gasp. The orcs were towing an elf, his hands bound behind them. "Haldir," Legolas thought to himself as he looked in alarm at the helpless elf. Looking over at Joey after estimating how many orcs there were, he said in a soft voice, "Stay here." Before Joey could react, Legolas had dropped down from the tree and had started to kill the orcs. Soon, the bonds holding Haldir had been cut and Legolas' elven sword was in his hands. Joey watch from the tree as the orcs seemed to grow in number, but Legolas and Haldir refused to be separated as they fought back to back. Joey's eyes widened as she saw an orc lunge for Legolas' unprotected side, unnoticed by the two elves. "No!" Joey screamed as she jumped down from the tree just as the blade pierced through Legolas' side. Legolas screamed at the sudden sharp pain in his side and the world around him flashed white and red. He heard a scream, but didn't know where it was coming form until he saw Joey fighting next to him. Slowly, he sunk to the floor, his bow still in his hands as Haldir and Joey fought on either side of him, protecting their fallen friend. Legolas hear the clash of metal against metal and voices calling his name, but at the same time, he didn't feel like he was in the forest at all. "He needs help," Joey thought as she stole a glance at Haldir who seemed to be thinking the same thing. She looked quickly down at Legolas and saw the light in his eyes starting to dim ever so slightly, a dark pool of crimson starting to form, visible even in the failing light. "Stay here in this world, mellon nin!" Joey shouted down to the elf as she slit the throat of an orc. "It is not your time yet!" Hope was fading for the trio, as the two still standing were starting to tire and the amount of enemies seemed endless. Suddenly the sky started to rain arrows. The Lothlorien elves had gone to search for the missing Haldir, and were now helping to attack the orcs. At this point, both Haldir and Joey stopped fighting to check on Legolas. "A Eru," Haldir said softly under his breath as he looked at Legolas. "Help him, Haldir, please!" Joey said as she placed a hand over the wound in attempt to stop the bleeding. She looked into Haldir's eyes and the tale they told made tears well up in her eyes. The wound was too extensive and they were too far away from help. By the time they reached Lothlorien, it would be too late. Joey lifted Legolas slightly so she supported his back using her legs that were folded underneath him. His head lulled and landed on her shoulder "This is all my fault," Joey said as she let the tears roll down her cheeks. "I'm sorry, mellon nin, we shouldn't' have left Mirkwood." "Nay, Joey," Legolas said, his voice struggling with the pain. "We did not know this would happen. It is nobody's fault." "Thank you, my friend," Haldir said as he placed a hand on Legolas' shoulder. The sorrow in his bright elven eyes would have broken Joey's heart if it wasn't already. "Oh Valar," Joey thought as she closed her eyes. "I know I don't belong in this world by now Legolas, my friend, is dying. It is not his time! Please, just let him get well, don't take him away so soon." Haldir peered at the human as tears continued to roll down her cheeks. His attention was diverted when a soft blue-white like started to form under her hand that was still placed over Legolas' wound. As he looked, the light got brighter. "By the Valar," Haldir said as the light continued getting brighter, but was not at all blinding. His comment caused Joey to open her eyes and what she saw made her gasp. Legolas let out a small, quiet moan and the light started to fade. Soon, there was no light coming from her hand at all. When Joey removed her hand, the wound was gone. Legolas opened his eyes and Haldir and Joey both saw that the dimness was gone. "What?" Joey said softly, looking at her hand and not understanding what just happened. "Legolas, are you alright?" Joey asked as the elf tired to sit up all the way. "Aye, mellon nin," Legolas said as he smiled. "I feel perfectly healthy." Joey looked over at Haldir and shared his shock and relief. With a laugh, Joey placed Legolas back on the ground, a hand on his chest to keep him from sitting up again. "That is good news, my friend," Joey said with a genuine smile on her face. "But it would do you good if you rested a little while. We can continue our journey in the morning now that the yrchs are dead." "I won't argue for I feel weary," Legolas said as a mischievous glint entered his eyes. "But I would like to remind you that I am not made out of glass." "No, you're not," Joey said, a mischievous grin spreading on her face. "Glass would not have been pierced so easily with an orc blade!" At this they two young ones laughed and Haldir chuckled at their antics. One of the other Lothlorien elves that had stayed back but still witnessed the miracle came forward to talk to Haldir. "I'm sorry, milady," Haldir said with a small bow. "I must return to Lothlorien, but a small group from the search party will stay behind to escort you to our forests in the morning." "Thank you, Haldir," Joey said, standing up and dipping her head slightly. "Please, call me Joey." Haldir smiled and nodded as he placed a hand over his heart and bowed his head. The other elf followed suit and with a leap, they were both gone. None of the other elves appeared so Joey figured they were up in the trees, somewhere. She went into Legolas' pack that the Lothlorien elf had brought with him and took out his cloak, which she laid over the sleeping elf, though she doubted that he needed it. She took out her own cloak given to her by Thranduil from her pack and leaned against a tree, hoping to get some sleep.
Though it was a rather rocky start, as time passed, Legolas and Joey became good friends. Today, a week since she had appeared in Middle-Earth, they were taking a stroll into the lesser-known parts of Mirkwood. Their voice could be heard as they walked, a light, friendly banter taking place between them. Though it was not serious, their banters always seemed to be at least partially true and though they did not get angry, fire could still sometimes be seen in both their eyes as they retorted to the other's comment. Finally, the pair stopped and sat on the rocks by a small waterfall. Neither spoke for some time, for they were content with listening to the nature around them.
"Legolas, I wish to see more of Middle-Earth," Joey said finally, speaking what was on her mind. She had been looking straight at the waterfall, though not actually noticing it, but now she turned to look at Legolas sitting on her left. "I want to see all of the other places to Middle- Earth that I have always wanted to see." "Joey" Legolas started, in a tone that sounded like he meant to talk her out of it. "Nay, mellon nin," Joey said, cutting his sentence short. "I never thought this could be possible. Now that it is, I want to see all that I can see. My intent was for you to come with me, but if you do not, then I journey on my own." Legolas opened his mouth, but no words came out, so he shut it again. After a long moment, he sighed and said, "I will not let you travel in Middle-Earth by yourself. It is true that the One Ring has now been destroyed, but there is much that is still dark and evil in these lands. Nay, milady, you will not be going alone. I will come with you." "Thank you, my friend," Joey said, smiling and giving Legolas a small hug. "You will not regret this." Legolas smiled, but inwardly he hoped that he had made the right choice.
~*~
A few days later, Legolas and Joey bid Thranduil and the elves of Mirkwood goodbye and were off on their journey. The first place Joey wanted to see was Lothlorien. Joey knew that if she did not go soon, she might miss the chance of seeing Galadriel, the Lady of Light, before she left for the Grey Havens. Joey was happy to be travelling and Legolas, though he would never admit it, was happy as well. He had missed Mirkwood while on his journey to destroy the ring, but had been missing the wild forests now that he was home. They were about another day's journey away from Lothlorien, but night was starting to fall and they had to top and make camp. The fire was small, but gave out a sufficient amount of heat and light. "That was a delicious meal," Joey stated. They had had nothing but lembas and fruits for the past week now. The elf looked over at her and they started to laugh, filling the forest with beautiful sounds. Suddenly, Legolas stopped laughing and his whole body tensed. Noticing the defensive manoeuvre, Joey stopped and listened carefully, but couldn't hear anything out of the ordinary. "What is it?" Joey asked in a low whisper. "Something is coming," Legolas replied, his voice so low that Joey almost didn't hear him. Legolas put out the fire and took their bags and leapt into a tree. A moment later, Legolas was back on the ground, the bags stored in the tree, to help Joey get up into the tree as well. She was tall, light, and quite agile since she was an athlete and needed little assistance. Together, they leapt to a tree a little distance away form where they had camped just moments ago. Legolas leapt without any noise, but Joey leapt through the trees with slightly less grace, causing a quiet stir of the leaves. "This is harder than Legolas makes it look," Joey thought as she watched the elf in front of her. They stopped and waited to see what was coming. As the group of footsteps got closer, they realized that the noise was coming form a band of hideous orcs. Legolas looked over at Joey and silently pulled out his white-handled elven daggers and handed them to her. He then grabbed his bow for himself, fitting it with an arrow as his elven sword hung at his side in its scabbard. Joey looked down again and let out a gasp. The orcs were towing an elf, his hands bound behind them. "Haldir," Legolas thought to himself as he looked in alarm at the helpless elf. Looking over at Joey after estimating how many orcs there were, he said in a soft voice, "Stay here." Before Joey could react, Legolas had dropped down from the tree and had started to kill the orcs. Soon, the bonds holding Haldir had been cut and Legolas' elven sword was in his hands. Joey watch from the tree as the orcs seemed to grow in number, but Legolas and Haldir refused to be separated as they fought back to back. Joey's eyes widened as she saw an orc lunge for Legolas' unprotected side, unnoticed by the two elves. "No!" Joey screamed as she jumped down from the tree just as the blade pierced through Legolas' side. Legolas screamed at the sudden sharp pain in his side and the world around him flashed white and red. He heard a scream, but didn't know where it was coming form until he saw Joey fighting next to him. Slowly, he sunk to the floor, his bow still in his hands as Haldir and Joey fought on either side of him, protecting their fallen friend. Legolas hear the clash of metal against metal and voices calling his name, but at the same time, he didn't feel like he was in the forest at all. "He needs help," Joey thought as she stole a glance at Haldir who seemed to be thinking the same thing. She looked quickly down at Legolas and saw the light in his eyes starting to dim ever so slightly, a dark pool of crimson starting to form, visible even in the failing light. "Stay here in this world, mellon nin!" Joey shouted down to the elf as she slit the throat of an orc. "It is not your time yet!" Hope was fading for the trio, as the two still standing were starting to tire and the amount of enemies seemed endless. Suddenly the sky started to rain arrows. The Lothlorien elves had gone to search for the missing Haldir, and were now helping to attack the orcs. At this point, both Haldir and Joey stopped fighting to check on Legolas. "A Eru," Haldir said softly under his breath as he looked at Legolas. "Help him, Haldir, please!" Joey said as she placed a hand over the wound in attempt to stop the bleeding. She looked into Haldir's eyes and the tale they told made tears well up in her eyes. The wound was too extensive and they were too far away from help. By the time they reached Lothlorien, it would be too late. Joey lifted Legolas slightly so she supported his back using her legs that were folded underneath him. His head lulled and landed on her shoulder "This is all my fault," Joey said as she let the tears roll down her cheeks. "I'm sorry, mellon nin, we shouldn't' have left Mirkwood." "Nay, Joey," Legolas said, his voice struggling with the pain. "We did not know this would happen. It is nobody's fault." "Thank you, my friend," Haldir said as he placed a hand on Legolas' shoulder. The sorrow in his bright elven eyes would have broken Joey's heart if it wasn't already. "Oh Valar," Joey thought as she closed her eyes. "I know I don't belong in this world by now Legolas, my friend, is dying. It is not his time! Please, just let him get well, don't take him away so soon." Haldir peered at the human as tears continued to roll down her cheeks. His attention was diverted when a soft blue-white like started to form under her hand that was still placed over Legolas' wound. As he looked, the light got brighter. "By the Valar," Haldir said as the light continued getting brighter, but was not at all blinding. His comment caused Joey to open her eyes and what she saw made her gasp. Legolas let out a small, quiet moan and the light started to fade. Soon, there was no light coming from her hand at all. When Joey removed her hand, the wound was gone. Legolas opened his eyes and Haldir and Joey both saw that the dimness was gone. "What?" Joey said softly, looking at her hand and not understanding what just happened. "Legolas, are you alright?" Joey asked as the elf tired to sit up all the way. "Aye, mellon nin," Legolas said as he smiled. "I feel perfectly healthy." Joey looked over at Haldir and shared his shock and relief. With a laugh, Joey placed Legolas back on the ground, a hand on his chest to keep him from sitting up again. "That is good news, my friend," Joey said with a genuine smile on her face. "But it would do you good if you rested a little while. We can continue our journey in the morning now that the yrchs are dead." "I won't argue for I feel weary," Legolas said as a mischievous glint entered his eyes. "But I would like to remind you that I am not made out of glass." "No, you're not," Joey said, a mischievous grin spreading on her face. "Glass would not have been pierced so easily with an orc blade!" At this they two young ones laughed and Haldir chuckled at their antics. One of the other Lothlorien elves that had stayed back but still witnessed the miracle came forward to talk to Haldir. "I'm sorry, milady," Haldir said with a small bow. "I must return to Lothlorien, but a small group from the search party will stay behind to escort you to our forests in the morning." "Thank you, Haldir," Joey said, standing up and dipping her head slightly. "Please, call me Joey." Haldir smiled and nodded as he placed a hand over his heart and bowed his head. The other elf followed suit and with a leap, they were both gone. None of the other elves appeared so Joey figured they were up in the trees, somewhere. She went into Legolas' pack that the Lothlorien elf had brought with him and took out his cloak, which she laid over the sleeping elf, though she doubted that he needed it. She took out her own cloak given to her by Thranduil from her pack and leaned against a tree, hoping to get some sleep.